Moab has long been a haven for those who love the outdoors. In addition to being the easiest home base from which to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab is home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the world.
- There are a lot of things to see around the city of Moab. This guide is based on the experiences of the author, backed up by reviews and information from various travel sites, and is meant to help a newcomer to the area sort through the numerous options and decide what they need to see to fully experience this corner of Utah.
- This itinerary is for an active person who wants to see the one-of-a-kind sights around Moab, and doesn't mind a bit of walking to get to the best view.
- It includes 3 days of the best places to go for a hike and take your camera, with options for shorter or longer visits.
- This itinerary should provide you with sufficient directions and other information to almost act as a standalone guide to the area. However, in some cases there are hyperlinks to other (free) websites, primarily for more detailed maps that you may find helpful while planning your trip.
- Experience Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and ride the world-famous Slickrock bike trail.
- Includes 25 miles of hiking, plus a 12-mile bike trail, spread over the 3 days.
What you'll find in this itinerary:
- Site-by-site instructions for the various sections of Arches National Park.
- The best of what there is to see in Canyonlands National Park compressed into a single, awesome day.
- The best lodging option in town, and why to stay there.
- List of the best dining options, at various price points.
- Maps and driving directions, with links to the best-quality free trail maps online where appropriate.
Why use this itinerary:
- Saves you time by not having to do additional research on the area.
- Know what time of day to visit each area to get the best experience, and the best pictures.
- Canyonlands has so many options available, this guide helps you identify how to see the true highlights in just 1 day.
- With these instructions, a solo traveler will only need to spend $90 on activity and rental fees, a couple just $140, or a family of four just $200.
Itinerary Table of Contents
- How to Use This Guide
- Why Visit Moab?
- Getting There and Getting Around
- Lodging
- Restaurants
- Day-by-day Itinerary
- Making a Shorter or Longer Trip
- About the Author
Sample From the Itinerary
This is just a sample of the itinerary. The actual itinerary includes pictures and maps.
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Whether you go back to town for lunch or eat somewhere in the park, in the afternoon you'll first want to visit The Windows. Get there from Devil's Garden by taking the second left turn off the main park road. Or, if coming from town, take the first right turn, just past the Balanced Rock parking area. You can park on either side of the one-way loop (closer to the Windows or closer to Double Arch) since the total walking is only 2-3 miles. The coolest part of this area is to walk all the up to Double Arch and climb up onto the rocks underneath.
Tip: If you are looking for neat pictures, there are ample photographic opportunities in this area to include multiple arches in the frame. The cover picture of this itinerary is of Double Arch.
The last stop of the day is the Courthouse Towers, along a trail called Park Avenue. Both ends of the trail have parking area located along the main road. Just drive back from the Windows, and turn left towards the park entrance. Pass the Balanced Rock (immediately on your left) and the Petrified Dunes (a few miles down, also on the left), and the next parking area you'll see is the first trailhead. The second is the trailhead is at the next parking area on your right. If you don't think you'll be doing the whole round-trip walk, park at the northern end since more of the named rock formations are nearby. The features in this area are not arches, but rather are buttes reminiscent of Monument Valley, the famous natural backdrop used in many classic Western movies. Only these rocks are closer together, providing a unique viewpoint of the steep walls.
Tip: Some of the rocks around Courthouse Towers can become very colorful in the early evening light, which can make for stunning photos.
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